Demand and Sales Activity
Compared to the previous week, small square bal e prices were steady . Large square bale prices were down 2 % . Large round bale prices were up 2% . Sales activity was very light to moderate .
For Nebraska , hay prices were steady on limited alfalfa hay sales . A lot of buyers and sellers are watching the hay market to see what direction is might go. If Nebraska contin ues to be wet and cold, it will be hard to bale cornstalks this fall and feedlots might increase their demand for alfalfa and grass hay. There are a lot of scenarios all contacts bring up during conversation. Light to moderate rain across most of the stat e this week has stopped hay production this week. Hopefully sun shine will come with next week’s weather forecast. Silage choppers have been very busy across most of the state especially on hailed corn fields.
For Iowa , hay prices were steady on very lim ited alfalfa hay sales . There was very limited hay movement this week. Some producers have a lot of hay to put up this fall. Some areas of the state have had up to 25 inches of rain in the last 30 days. There is still very good demand for high testing hay which is very scarce in most reporting areas.
In South Dakota , hay prices were $ 15.40 low er . Demand continues to be very good for high testing dairy quality alfalfa and higher quality grass, with light to moderate demand for lower qualities. Tradin g activity has been moderate this past week, with producers working on fourth cutting alfalfa in the southeastern part of the state and finishing up third cutting in the northeast. Corn silage cutting is in full swing throughout the entire trade area. N ormal temperatures returned this past week which helped to get hay cured. Forecasted temperatures for next week look to be in the 70's with little to no chances for rain. Producers in the northeast part of the state were hit with patchy frost.
For Missouri , alfalfa hay prices were steady on very limited alfalfa hay sales . Hay supply is moderate to heavy and demand is light . Last week’s cold snap did spur a slight bit of activity and even some limited movement. Overall though, the market remains very sluggish and will likely remain that way until snowfall. Some producers are still cutting some fall grass and bailing what is likely the last cutting of alfalfa, but haying has generally taken a back seat to corn harvest in every area of the state that p roduces grain.
In Southwest Minnesota , hay prices were $ 21.85 high er . Light frost arrived in Minnesota last Friday night into Saturday morning, leaving farmers unsure of the impact on crop yields. The third cutting of alfalfa hay was 82 percent complet e . All hay conditions was unchanged at 72 percent good to e xcellent. Pasture conditions in creased to 71 percent good to excellent. Pasture conditions declined somewhat and were rated 2 % very poor; 5 % poor; 2 3 % fair; 51 % good; and 19 % excellent.
There were no state hay reports this week for Illinois . The third cutting of alfalfa hay was 90 % complete compared to the 5 - year average of 92 %. Pasture conditions were stable and rated at 1% very poor; 5% poor; 25% fair; 57% good; and 14 % excellent.
For Wisconsin, hay prices were $ 24.45 low er at a quality - tested hay auction in Fennimore . Silage corn was being harvested in the south of the state , but most reporters commented that corn was not mature enough to chop. Producers statewide were hoping for sunn y days to finish the crop and improve field conditions. The third cutting was 90 percent complete. The fourth cutting was 39 percent complete. All hay condition was rated 84 percent good to excellent. Pasture conditions stable a nd were rated at 1 % very poor ; 5 % poor; 27 % fair; 54 % good; and 13 % excellent.
Straw pric es in the Midwest averaged $ 3.00 per s mall square bale (range of $2 .25 to $5. 00); $ 39.07 per large square bale (range of $ 26.25 to $ 60.53 ) ; and $ 41 .80 per large round bale (range of $ 2 6 .00 to $ 60.0 0 ). Compared to the previous week, straw pric e s for small square bales were 11 % low er . For la rge sq uare bales, prices were steady . For large round bales, prices were steady .
Source:uwex.edu
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